One whose intelligence overcomes his desires will attain the...

One whose intelligence overcomes his desires will attain the highest position among mankind and a perfect spirituality, but one whose desires to conquer his intelligence will be among the great losers, the lowest of mankind and comparable in nature to the beasts. The desires and their legions are stronger than intelligence and its armies, and this is why most people go astray and wander far from the straight path of guidance, by obeying their desires and answering the call of their emotions.

As is said in the Qur’an: “And though thou try much, most men will not believe” (6) Besides, man is reluctant and unaware of all the facts and secrets of the world around him, and since he is also ignorant of his own self, how can he know all that will make him prosperous and what will make him suffer; how can he know everything that is in his own interest or in the interests of mankind as a whole?

Whenever he advances with a new discovery, he sees his own ignorance and realizes that he knows nothing. It is because of this that man has an insistent need for someone to show him the clear, straight path to prosperity and to give support to his intelligence, so that it may overcome its unruly, persistent enemy, and so that he may prepare to fight his emotions. Man is desperately in need of…